Exhibit 99.1

1511 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 900
Tampa, Florida 33607
(813) 830-7700
www.ablest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		SYMBOL:		AIH
Thursday, August 10, 2006		TRADED:		AMEX

ABLEST INC. REPORTS INCREASED REVENUE FOR SECOND QUARTER

     TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 10 — Ablest Inc. today reported that revenue for the fiscal second quarter ended July 2, 2006 increased 4.9 percent to $34.3 million as compared to revenue of $32.8 million in the 2005 second quarter. Net income decreased to $285,000 or $0.10 per diluted share compared to $574,000 or $0.20 per diluted share for the similar period last year. Net income in the fiscal second quarter was negatively impacted because of higher than planned increase in workers’ compensation expense accruals of approximately $254,000.

     Revenues for the first 27 weeks of fiscal 2006 increased 10.4 percent to $70.2 million from $63.6 million in the corresponding 26-week period of the prior year. For the six months ended July 2, 2006, net income was $633,000 or $0.21 per diluted share compared to the first half of 2005 when the company reported net income of $838,000 equal to $0.29 cents per diluted share.

     Kurt R. Moore, president and chief executive officer, said, “The company experienced an increase in claims costs and incidence rates in 2006 which required an increase in our workers’ compensation expense estimates. Senior management is addressing this matter to reduce the growth rate of the expense.”

About Ablest

     Ablest is a leader in workforce services; creating and delivering local solutions that enable companies to compete and win in an ever-changing business world. Services are provided through its Staffing Services and Professional Services Divisions. Staffing Services offers customers a range of employment services in the office and light industrial sectors including employee assessment and selection, training, managed services and vendor-on-premise (VOP) programs. Professional Services offers employment and consulting services in the Information Technology and Finance and Accounting sectors. Ablest’s Services focus on improving customer performance in the areas of quality, efficiency and cost-reduction within their workforce. Ablest supplies more than 37,000 field employees and consultants to approximately 2,000 businesses annually through 58 locations in the Eastern and Southwestern United States.

     Statements made in this news release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Readers should carefully review and consider disclosures, including periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors which affect the company’s business.

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PAGE 2 / ABLEST INC. REPORTS INCREASED REVENUE FOR SECOND QUARTER

ABLEST INC.
Condensed Statements of Income
(amounts in thousands except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)

		For the Thirteen Week								For the Twenty Seven Week				For the Twenty Six Week
		Periods Ended								Period Ended				Period Ended
		July 2, 2006				June 26, 2005				July 2, 2006				June 26, 2005
Net service revenues		$	34,340			$	32,751			$	70,204			$	63,586
Cost of services			28,398				27,009				58,151				52,867
Gross profit			5,942				5,742				12,053				10,719
Selling, general and administrative expenses			5,466				4,815				11,017				9,364
Operating income			476				927				1,036				1,355
Other:
Interest income, net			10				—				9				—
Miscellaneous income (expense), net			19				—				21				(3	)
Other income (expense)			29				—				30				(3	)
Income before income taxes			505				927				1,066				1,352
Income tax expense			220				353				433				514
Net income		$	285			$	574			$	633			$	838
Basic net income per common share		$	0.10			$	0.20			$	0.22			$	0.29
Diluted net income per common share		$	0.10			$	0.20			$	0.21			$	0.29
Weighted average number of common shares used in computing net income per common share
Basic			2,933,268				2,863,509				2,915,761				2,859,043
Diluted			2,971,642				2,940,368				2,952,721				2,933,530

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PAGE 3 / ABLEST INC. REPORTS INCREASED REVENUE FOR SECOND QUARTER

ABLEST INC.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(amounts in thousands except share data)
(Unaudited)

		July 2, 2006				December 25, 2005
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		$	3,698			$	1,931
Accounts receivable, net			16,355				18,760
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			704				469
Current deferred tax asset			1,246				1,246
Total current assets			22,003				22,406
Property and equipment, net			2,329				1,732
Deferred tax asset			681				863
Goodwill			1,283				1,283
Other assets			245				171
Total assets		$	26,541			$	26,455
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable		$	739			$	841
Accrued insurance			2,235				2,536
Accrued wages			2,500				2,738
Other current liabilities			469				514
Total current liabilities			5,943				6,629
Other liabilities			198				432
Total liabilities			6,141				7,061
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock of $.05 par value; 500,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding at July 2, 2006 and December 25, 2005			—				—
Common stock of $.05 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized, 3,387,118 and 3,334,344 shares issued and outstanding including shares held in treasury at July 2,, 2006 and December 25, 2005, respectively			169				167
Additional paid-in capital			5,636				5,265
Retained earnings			16,705				16,072
Treasury stock at cost; 457,729 shares held at July 2, 2006 and December 25, 2005			(2,110	)			(2,110	)
Total stockholders’ equity			20,400				19,394
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	26,541			$	26,455

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SOURCE:		Ablest Inc.
CONTACT:		John Horan, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		813/830-7700 or jhoran@ablest.com/